England U18 name side to face France

England Under 18 return to action on Sunday against the only side to have dented their impressive 14-match winning run. Gloucester Rugby & Hartpury College duo Ryan Mills and Dan Robson are named in the 22.

England, coached by John Fletcher and Peter Walton, haven't been beaten in an international at this level since an 11-3 defeat against Australia in Brisbane in 2007.

But France - visitors to Newbury this weekend - edged past them in a training game last season and will threaten all over the field, according to former Newcastle Falcons boss Fletcher.

Fly half George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers) leads the side at Monks Lane and Fletcher makes seven changes to the team that beat Australian Schools 30-28 at Sale in December.

"We played France last year in a training game - three 20 minute periods - and they beat us by a point after we'd scored three tries each," said head coach Fletcher.

"They'll be tough - big aggressive forwards, quick backs. We know what they'll throw at us and last year they were very strong at Under 17 level."

England, though, are buoyant after their last outing, when replacement wing Tommy Bell finished off a superb 80 metre attack to secure victory over an older Australian side at Heywood Road.

Fletcher added: "We try and develop players to play a game with a lot of threats, no matter what the opposition do. Wherever they're looking to defend we look to score somewhere else, driving, kicking, moving the ball wide.

"The current squad are a good bunch. There's hardly any carry over from last year so it takes time for a new squad to gel but they've come together well and that showed in the game they played against Australia. Scoring right at the end to win such a good game was really good for their spirit and morale."

Speaking to GRTV in front of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, Henry Trinder explained how important the West Country Challenge Cup is going to be for the Cherry and Whites in their preseason preparations.

Speaking to GRTV at preseason training this Tuesday, new signing Willi Heinz gave an update on his recovery from a leg injury and expressed his enjoyment since his arrival in new surroundings with Gloucester Rugby.

Speaking to GRTV after the 22-23 defeat against Bordeaux-Begles which denied Gloucester a place in next season's European Rugby Champions Cup, Nick Wood rued the momentary lapse in concentration which allowed the French side to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

As Gloucester prepare for their 39th game of the season, against Bordeaux-Begles at Sixways on Sunday, David Humphreys told the local media that this week has been all about getting the players mentally and physically ready after a tough game against Connacht last Sunday.

Gloucester Rugby and Scotland scrum half Greig Laidlaw is gearing up for Rugby World Cup with his international teammates, and speaking to the assembled media this week, Laidlaw is excited to be in familiar surroundings at the showcase tournament.

With 50 days to go until Rugby World Cup 2015 gets underway several of the nations that are set to take to the Kingsholm Stadium field during the pool stages were in action in Toronto in Round Three of the Pacific Nations Cup.